This post was updated Sept. 22 at 12:35 p.m.

Members of the Undergraduate Students Association Council told the Daily Bruin they plan to use their terms to promote equity and accessibility.

USAC is the official undergraduate student government body of UCLA, with 15 officers elected to the council each spring. Members of this year’s council discussed their goals for their time in office.

President: Adam Tfayli

Adam Tfayli, a third-year human biology and society student, said he plans to ensure the council fully functions while tackling student issues including safety on campus, unrest and increased student fees. Tfayli added that he plans to promote initiatives that empower minority students’ voices and create spaces to encourage student discourse.

Tfayli said that should the campus see unrest in the fall, while he hopes to protect all students’ rights of free speech and to protest, he will ultimately focus on campus safety for all students. Tfayli added that he believes he is in a position to advocate for student voices while working to lessen the divide between student political and cultural groups.

“I have my own opinions and my own background, and that definitely paid into me getting elected, and it’s going to play into how I advocate on behalf of the students,” he said. ”At the same time, it’s my duty to make sure that I meet with all students and hear all students out and advocate for all students.”

Tfayli also said he plans to tackle problems regarding USAC’s budget and prevent increases in student fees, adding that without intervention, the council’s expenses will soon exceed its income. Tfayli also said he has been taking on more brand and sponsorship deals and is working on other projects to put more money back into the student union.

Internal vice president: Josh Garland

Josh Garland, a fourth-year history and political science student, said he plans to focus his term on addressing the basic needs and safety of students as well as improving the transparency of USAC.

To address basic needs, Garland said he will continue to host his office’s Off-Campus Living Fair and make it more accessible by inviting groups that focus on housing insecurity. He added that he will also work to enroll more students in CalFresh, a state program which provides financial assistance for purchasing food, and will continue the yearly Rent Relief Fund program while making it more inclusive to commuter students.

“Getting more students involved in or enrolled in CalFresh is obviously important,” he said. “I think a lot of students don’t know that they have access to CalFresh or how to enroll.”

Garland added that he has also seen a disconnect between the goals of the UCLA administration and the student body – a gap he is hoping to see bridged with his reintroduction of the Campus Safety Alliance, which will provide opportunities for student organizations to meet directly with administrators.

To increase the transparency between USAC and its appointments, students and student organizations, Garland said he would publish meeting minutes, require transparency reports from USAC committees and reach out to student organizations. He added that he hopes these initiatives increase collaboration and bridge gaps between student organizations and USAC.

External vice president: Javier Nuñez-Verdugo

Javier Nuñez-Verdugo, a fourth-year psychology and public affairs student, said they want to use their experience as a student who comes from a minority background to help work toward better advocacy. They added that they plan to connect and better support organizations that are a part of the Mother Organizations coalition – a group of organizations representing marginalized students on campus – increase transparency and make more intentional change.

Nuñez-Verdugo also said they plan to promote initiatives to encourage better access and retention rates for students, including through projects that are UC-wide and statewide.

“Going into my fourth year as someone who is disabled, who comes from a family who is low income, and has honestly been done really dirty by the university, … I want to be able to at least set the groundwork for future offices to make other students of color, especially, feel a lot less isolated in their time there,” they said.

Nuñez-Verdugo added that they are currently working on multiple projects to expand resources for undocumented and international students, secure more funding for Mother Organizations and fight for the Latina Resource Center as UCLA approaches HSI status.

General representative 1: Diego Emilio Bollo

Diego Emilio Bollo did not respond to requests for comment after missing a scheduled interview.

General representative 2: Tommy Contreras

Tommy Contreras, a third-year political science and public affairs student, said he plans to ensure student voices are being heard, adding that his goals focus around improving gender equity, equitable transportation and academic resources and integrity.

Contreras said he understands that different communities and individuals each have unique needs, and he hopes to hear their concerns and address their needs. He said he plans to increase access to free rape test kits and funding for campus assault resources and education.

Contreras added that he would advocate for expanding safe transportation options for Bruins, including through advocating for a reinstated direct bus from campus to LAX and more BruinBus connections to LA Metro stations.

[Related: Los Angeles World Airports rejects plan to restore FlyAway bus service in Westwood]

Contreras said he also wants to support students facing accusations of academic dishonesty, particularly as a response to the growing influence of artificial intelligence. This would include providing these students with an advisory board to help give students the knowledge and resources they need to defend themselves, he said.

General representative 3: Chris Ramsey

Chris Ramsey, a third-year mathematics/economics student, said he plans to increase financial aid accessibility and provide better career opportunities for Bruins.

To further simplify the process of applying for financial aid, Ramsey said he wants to create a comprehensive list of resources and step-by-step guides on how to actually use them. Ramsey added that his office will try to increase awareness and provide resources to help students advocate for college affordability in the face of rising administrative and facility costs.

As the president of Bruin Finance Society, Ramsey said he has noticed a variety of issues with the career support system at UCLA, including a lack of applicable career skills being taught in classes. He added that he wants to talk to different academic departments, professional clubs and the career center to make sure that career skills are integrated in classes and extracurriculars.

Ramsey also said some hiring companies are not transparent about visa sponsorship at career fairs, which is something he hopes to change. He also said he wants to simplify the process of acquiring summer storage by having the university buy units in bulk and sell them individually to students.

To improve the accessibility of USAC, Ramsey added that he would use quarterly reports to explain what USAC is and what the council does. Ramsey said that with this initiative, he hopes to see a higher voter turnout for elections and participation in USAC.

Academic Affairs commissioner: Christopher Espino

Christopher Espino, a third-year education and social transformation and political science student, said he hopes to bring a holistic view on academic affairs and plans to address a variety of issues relating to academics during his tenure.

Espino said he plans to advocate for course marking, which would allow students to view how much a course will cost and the purchases required by a professor to succeed in a course, allowing students to take finances into account when making course decisions.

“Perhaps they (a student) haven’t received their financial aid, or they have one scholarship that is less in comparison to other quarters, so that can let them work with when they will take a class,” Espino said.

Espino also said he wants to create partnerships with nearby businesses to acquire discounts for students and create more accessible options to destress.

Espino added that he believes it is also important to create partnerships with organizations outside of Westwood to give students greater opportunities to further their education in the real world.

“I view academics more broadly, and that includes making sure that our students are prepared for the workforce.” he said. “At the end of the day, you’re coming to get an education to be prepared for work.”

Campus Events commissioner: Robbie Hall

Robbie Hall, a fourth-year history and political science student, said he plans to shift his office’s approach by selecting fewer but more relevant concerts, speakers and film screenings.

He said he plans to work with student organizations to achieve a goal of having at least one event each year by which any student can feel represented, citing AfroFest – which is planned in collaboration with the Nigerian Students Association – as an example.

Hall also said he plans to make events more accessible to people who do not follow his office on Instagram or stay up-to-date with its website. As an extension of that effort, he said he wants to make sure that every student has an equal shot at acquiring tickets to his office’s events – which includes Bruin Bash.

Hall said his main focus, however, lies in putting his office’s funds to good use.

“At the end of the day, we need to serve the campus community,” he said. “With that money that we do get from students, we want to put on events that people are truly excited and very, very passionate about attending, learning from and enjoying,” he said.

Community Service commissioner: Carolyn Wang

Carolyn Wang, a fourth-year public affairs and statistics and data science student, said she aims to increase her office’s visibility on campus, implement greater transparency and clarify processes for funding requests.

Wang said she wishes to connect with more demographics on campus, including transfer students and other underrepresented groups, adding that they hold an important place in her decision making. She added that her office and others in USAC should focus on including students in advocacy.

Wang said it is important to respond to a lack of unity and trust within the student body, which she plans to do through prioritizing mental health in her office’s activities and ensuring accessibility for all students to events.

Wang says she also plans to build on the work of her predecessor, Chia Ying Wong, including continuing partnerships with the Center for Community Engagement and her office’s Service Education team.

Cultural Affairs commissioner: Alicia Verdugo

Alicia Verdugo did not respond to requests for comment.

Facilities commissioner: Alexandra Paul

Alexandra Paul did not respond to requests for comment.

Financial Supports commissioner: Nico Morrone

Nico Morrone, a third-year financial actuarial mathematics student, said he plans to ensure financial transparency between USAC and the student body and equity among USAC offices.

He added that he hopes to achieve this transparency with the Financial Review Oversight Board, which was created by the previous term’s bylaws. The Board looks at USAC expenditures and budgets so Morrone’s office can ensure students’ fees are being spent in a beneficial way, he added.

Morrone said he hopes to solve a disconnect between his office and the student body, adding that students are often not familiar with the role of USAC’s offices. However, he said he believes that increased transparency can facilitate greater connection.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, Morrone’s predecessor, Sara Broukhim, brokered a deal – which has since ended – with the New York Times to provide subscriptions to undergraduate students at UCLA. Morrone expressed disappointment in the ended free New York Times subscription from the past year but said he plans to find more grants to increase his office’s funds and bring the subscription back.

Student Wellness commissioner: Chiara Frank

Chiara Frank, a fourth-year neuroscience student, said she wants to take an identity-based approach to health and focus on building connections with identity-based organizations on campus as well as focusing on health literacy and the basic needs of students.

Frank said intersections between identity and health are widespread and something she wants to prioritize in the upcoming year by growing connections between her office and identity-based clubs and student centers.

“We don’t know students’ experiences and what they’re coming to our university with – their background, their knowledge, their health literacy,” she said. “We want to make sure we’re reaching out and understanding those as best as we can.”

An education studies minor, Frank said learning is important to her and that she believes health literacy is vital for students to make decisions about their own health and live independently. By connecting with campus health centers, Frank added that she has been discovering where students have gaps in medical knowledge and what they are having a hard time accessing, including health insurance.

Frank said her office will also continue its efforts to address campus needs, including a basic needs gift card program for hygiene resources and making Narcan and fentanyl test strips more accessible.

Transfer student representative: Mona Tavassoli

Mona Tavassoli did not respond to requests for comment.

International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad

Syed Tamim Ahmad, a third-year physiological science student, said he wants to limit the unique challenges faced by international students while making sure the voices of all the different communities are heard.

Ahmad said he wants international students to receive the same professional benefits available to other students, such as the benefits of the career and alumni centers. By collaborating with these centers, he said he hopes job markets across the world will be represented and international students will be able to connect with international alumni.

“UCLA is not only a great university in the United States, but it’s an internationally acclaimed university,” he said. “ This (expansion to international job markets) will not only help international students but also local students.”

When Ahmad first came to UCLA, he said he faced problems getting a SIM card for his phone that took two weeks to solve. However, he said his office is collaborating with T-Mobile to set up a booth during New Student Orientation for international students, so students can get a SIM card immediately. He also said he is restarting the Bruin Buddies program from last year to connect exchange students with current Bruins.

Ahmad said he is up for the challenge of advocating for the whole international community, even though it includes many different voices.

“In our community, there’s a lot of voices,” he said. “It is very important, as the international student representative, to ensure that every single voice is being heard and is given a platform to voice their concerns.”